New Sewickley police say James Summers inhaled through tube, offered some to student

UPDATED 10:55 AM EST Jan 10, 2013

BEAVER, Pa. -

A high school teacher who police said was caught on a hidden camera doing drugs in his office and offering them to a student faces another charge, now that lab tests have confirmed the substance was Percocet.

James Summers, 41, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 22. His lawyer was in a trial on Thursday and not immediately available for comment on the new drug possession charge that was filed Wednesday.

When Summers' hearing was postponed last month, attorney Stephen Colafella said, "For the time being, we're just trying to get him some help. And he's had a tremendous outpouring of support -- notwithstanding the allegations here -- from people within his community who know him as a person, and know his background and his family and the extent of the problem, and everyone here is trying to see him get back on the right path and continue to be a productive person."

The New Sewickley Township Police Department said it got a complaint about Summers and notified the Freedom Area School District superintendent, who then put a camera in the physical education teacher's office at the high school.

"The video surveillance footage showed Mr. Summers inhaling a substance through a tube and in later footage showed him providing the substance to a juvenile to which the juvenile inhaled," Police Chief Ronald Leindecker said in a written statement.

Police said the surveillance video recorded five separate incidents of illegal drug activity during a three-day span. Summers was originally arrested on misdemeanor charges of corruption of minors and possession of drug paraphernalia before the new charge was added.

Student Michael Clagg said, "I think it was kind of known throughout the student body that he wasn't up to the best things."

But Clagg and other students told Channel 4 Action News’ Paul Van Osdol that Summers was a popular teacher. Some even talked about raising money for his bail.

"Everybody's kind of shocked, and they're in awe, because most people liked Mr. Summers. No one had a problem with him. He was a really nice guy, a good gym teacher, and I think most people are upset and shocked that happened," said student Sam Deane.

Summers, of Darlington, was a teacher in the district since 2000. He has resigned.

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